INSTITUTE, PUSA, FOR 1919-20 61 



5. Plots (M and N), each about \ acre, were selected 

 in good land which had never carried jute before. 

 Plot M was sown on 5th March with seed 

 of green-stemmed variety which had been treat- 

 ed by steeping in copper sulphate solution, and 

 plot N was sown on the same date with seed 

 which had not been so treated. Both plots 

 gave an excellent crop of jute, 9 — 11 feet in 

 height. In both plots nearly the same number 

 of stems were diseased owing to D. Corchori — 

 76 stems in Plot M and 56 in Plot N. 



As a result of these field experiments, particularly from 

 a consideration of the last two plots, it cannot be said that 

 seed steeping in copper sulphate has any influence on the 

 severity of the disease, and, therefore, as mentioned above, 

 the dissemination of the disease cannot take place to any 

 appreciable extent through spores of D. Corchori mingled 

 with the jute seed. The percentage of disease was also not 

 to any extent greater in those plots which had been under 

 jute for two or more successive seasons. Steeping the seed 

 may then be discontinued. 



An account of the work done on this disease during the 

 last three years is now in the press as a Memoir. 



(2) Fruit work in Kumaon. The season's practical 

 work for 1919 was completed in July. The chief diseases 

 dealt with were apple mildew (Podosphcera), which most 

 nearly approaches epidemic conditions in these orchards, 

 branch blister and apple cracking due to Coniothecium 

 chomatosporum, fly speck and sooty blotch (Leptothyrium 

 Pomi), and peach leaf curl {Exoascus deformans). 



The apple mildew spraying series included a test of home- 

 made lime sulphur, Berger's lime sulphur, and Burgundy 

 mixture, lead arsenate being added in each case. The trees 

 stood even the " winter " strength of lime sulphur success- 

 fully and the experiments showed that an application of 

 this fungicide made at the proper time will largely control 

 the disease. Berger's mixture proved very satisfactory and 

 simple to use. Further experiments with iron sulphide 



